Exploring the History of Calico Ghost Town: A Fun Day Trip

Calico Ghost Town is a historic town that survived the silver rush. It is one of the few remaining towns of the Old West and is now a California Historical Landmark and a San Bernardino County Park. Although it was once filled with miners, nowadays, the streets are packed with tourists eager to explore all the town offers.

Calico Ghost History

Silver was discovered in the Calico Mountains northeast of Barstow in 1881, and the town of Calico was established. Within a decade, the town had grown to a population of 1200 and boasted several amenities such as hotels, saloons, post offices, and newspapers, including the Calico Print. When silver prices declined in the mid-1890s, many miners moved to richer diggens. Eventually, when most of the silver ore was mined, Calico was abandoned and slowly transformed into a ghost town.

In the 1950s, Walter Knott purchased Calico town and restored it to its former state with a few alterations. Calico was later transformed into a tourist attraction showcasing the Old West’s lifestyle and events. The last original resident, Mrs. Lucy Bell Lane, passed away in the 1960s. Her former home now serves as the town museum. Today, Calico Ghost Town is a part of the San Bernardino County Regional Parks system and reminds us of California’s rich mining history.

Things To Do Calico Ghost Town

Main Street Shopping, Saloons, & Miners Cabins

Calico’s main street is a bustling area with shops selling souvenirs and gifts. However, if you take the time to go beyond the main road, you’ll discover the remains of miner cabins along with various mining artifacts. Even though only five of the original town buildings exist today, many were recreated as replicas of their originals. The original buildings still standing include Lil’s Saloon, Smitty’s Gallery, the general store, and Joe’s Saloon.

Maggie Mining Company Tour

Take a walking tour of a section of the Maggie Silver Mine from the 1880s. Inside the 100-foot tunnel, you’ll see several drifts where the miners extracted silver ore. Additionally, there are many fascinating mining artifacts from the era when there were nearly 500 mines in the surrounding hills. The cost of entry to this historic mine is only a few dollars. While some displays may be dated, they are still worth a visit.

Calico & Odessa Railroad Train Ride

The Calico & Odessa Railroad is a small railway that loops through a section of the Calico Mountains. The tracks pass by abandoned mines and offer passengers a scenic view of the desert valley below. The original Calico Railroad operated from 1888 to 1903, transporting supplies to the mines and carrying ore down to Daggett, California, for processing at the Elephant Mountain Mills. Tickets for this little train ride are only a few dollars, and kids of all ages can enjoy it.

Calico Ghost Town Mystery Shack

The Mystery Shack in Calico is similar to the Santa Cruz Mystery Spot. It features an optical illusion that creates the illusion of falling, even when you are not. Although the Mystery Shack has no connection to Calico’s history and is designed mainly for tourists, it can be an enjoyable experience for a small fee. The tour guides are known for their humorous approach, which adds to the overall experience. However, it’s important to note that the Shack is a display of gravity and optical illusion, and those who suffer from motion sickness or have vertigo should avoid it.

Lucy Lane House Museum

Calico’s last original inhabitant, Mrs. Lucy Bell Lane, died in 1969. Her house still stands today and serves as the town’s main museum. She was affectionately known as the ‘Queen of Calico’ and had been a lifelong resident of the area. Visitors can explore Lucy’s house and view various artifacts, photographs, and documents from the town’s origins.

Calico Points of Interest:

The Old Schoolhouse building replicates the original structure. Although Calico was a silver mining area, the Gold Panning Area is also a popular tourist attraction. Visitors can explore the town jail, a haunted cemetery, gift shops, and Western-themed eateries. If you wander the side streets, you can view some miner shacks and foundations of the original buildings. At the same time, most of the current buildings are replicas, a few that date back to the silver mining days, including Smitty’s Gallery, the general store, and Joe’s Saloon.

Calico Annual Events

Calico hosts various seasonal events, including Bluegrass in the Spring, a special weekend for Mother’s Day, Calico Days on the last weekend of September, Ghost Haunt on the previous two weekends in October, and a Holiday Festival on the first Saturday after Thanksgiving. Moreover, almost every weekend, you can enjoy various forms of entertainment along the main street.

Camping Calico Ghost Town

Calico is home to a campground managed by the County of San Bernardino Regional Parks Department. The campground features 265 campsites, including full and partial hookups and group tent camping sites. Additionally, six cabins are available for rent and can accommodate up to four people. While the cabins are equipped with heating and air conditioning, it’s important to note that pets are not allowed in the cabins.

Getting to Calico Ghost Town

Calico Ghost Town is an ideal place to take a break and explore if traveling to or from Las Vegas. The ghost town is off Interstate 15, just 3 miles from Barstow, and can be easily located by looking for the giant letters spelling CALICO. To get there, exit the freeway at Ghost Town Road and follow the uphill road. All the streets are paved, and ample parking is available. However, please note that an entrance fee is required to access the Calico Ghost Town website.

Nearby Calico Ghost Town Points of Interest

Daggett California

Daggett, California, was established in the late 1800s and was called Calico Junction. The town was later renamed to Daggett in 1883 by John R. Daggett, the owner of Bismarck Silver Mine. A stamping mill was built near the Mojave River bed around 1884, and 20-mule teams were used to transport the ore from Calico Hills to the mill for processing. After processing, the ore was shipped out on the Southern Pacific Railroad. Daggett is located a short distance from Calico Ghost Town.

Harvey House Railroad Depot Barstow

Harvey House Railroad Depot, also known as the Casa Del Desierto, sits by the railroad tracks in Barstow, California. The Barstow Railroad Depot opened in 1911 as a Santa Fee train station and Harvey House. Before dining cars, trains would stop at Harvey Houses so passengers could dine or even spend the night before resuming their journey—view website.

Amboy Crater Route 66 Loop

Take a road trip along Route 66 and drive the Amboy Loop. There are several points of interest along the way that you may also want to check out. We begin our journey in the town of Ludlow after taking the exit from I-40 in California.

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